Aggregate batcher by weight



April 17, 1951 J. D. NOBLE AGGREGATE BATCHER BY WEIGHT Filed Dec. 8; 1945 e Sheets-Sheet 1 I! I l I I x f l j \X I, /22 l2 /l 100 l Iowa FIE-.1 Hg a /6 INVENTOR. JACK 0. NOBLE BY 6D M A ril 17, 1951 2,549,704

J. D. NOBLE AGGREGATE BATCHER BY WEIGHT Filed,Dec. 8, 1945 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIE-4 INVENTOR. JACK D. NOBLE ATTOF/VEY April 1951 J. D. NOBLE 2,549,704

AGGREGATE BATCHER BY WEIGHT Filed Dec. 8, 1945 6 6 Sheets-Sheet s FIE I 5 INVE/l/Tflr? JHCPK D. NOBLE QLQW' A T7019! Y April 17, 1951 J NOBLE 2,549,794

' AGGREGATE BATCHER BY WEIGHT Filed Dec. 8, 1945 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR. JH CK D. NOBLE Patented Apr. 17, i951 U NILTED STATES FICE AGGREGATE BA'roHEa-ev WEIGHT Jack D. Noble; Gakland, Caliii, assignor to Noble Gompany', Oakland, Calif., a; partnership con' sisting of Bert Noble and Jack D. Noble- Application December 8, 1945, SerialNo. 633,593

6 Claims.

batchers of the character use'clj in connection with the mixing of concrete or other surfacing mixtures, and is concerned more particularly with the provision of batchers of the above character employing improved control means in conjunction with the weighing and feeding of the various ingredients to form" a, batch.

It is a general object of the invention to provide improved apparatus for controlling, the weighing and feeding of difierent ingredients to form a batch of concrete or other road surfacing mixtures.

Another object of the invention is to provide improved weighing control apparatus for use in aggregate batchers.

Another object of the invention is to provide improved apparatus of the above character having an automatic settable control of the, weighing operation.

A further object of the invention is to provide improved means for operating the discharge gates from the bins of an aggregate batcher.

Other objects, and advantages, of the invention will be apparent from the following description of the preferred embodiment, of the invention as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a front elevational view of an aggregate batcher embodying the invention.

section, of the control apparatus shown in Figure 5, the view being taken or indicated by the line 6-6 in Figure 5.

Figure 7 is a wiring diagram of the control apparatus.

Figure 8 is an elevational view of the scale cabinet incorporating the control apparatus shown in Figure with some parts omitted to show other details of construction.

lock mechanism for the control members;

Figure 9 is a sectional view of the light sensitive control unit.

Figure 10 is a view similar to Figure 5, enlarged to show the details of construction.

Figure 11 is a transverse sectional view of the mechanism shown in Figure 10.

now Patent No. 2,467,300;

Figure 13' is a side'elevjational view of the parts shown in Figure 12.,

Figure 14 is a view" similart'o' Figure 13, but showing the parts in" a different operative position.

Figure 15 is a circuit diagram of a modified" form of the invention Referring to Figures 1 and 2,, the aggregate bat'cher includes a. rectangular framework" Ill] which supports at. its upper portion a plurality ofbins I i for receiving and storing difierent inother similar road' surfacing material.

gates II which are described in" greater detail hereinafter. The various discharge gates 12 are disposed above a weighingbin' [3" for receiving the, different ingredients from the variousst'oring bins H. I supported' in the usual counterbalanced ma in conjunction with a weighing scale, mechanism" of the character disclosed in the co-pendingapplication of Harold L. Fate, Serial Not 5981985, filed. June 12, 1 945 for Weighing A paratus,

This weighing apparatus includes a scale cabinet i l, also referred to in greater detail hereinafter; ingredients fed to, the Weighing bin it, maybe, discharged therefrom through a gathering hopper it to a truck or mixing apparatus (not, shown) which can be driven under the hopper l8 betwen the posts. of'the frame lfif.

The discharge gates. I2Irefer'red to above are illustrated in greater detail in Figures 3 and 4,

each gate I2 being pivotally supported at 21' on the rectangular discharge. extension 22 of the associated bin H. Each gate [2 is provided with a gear sector 23 meshing with the similar ear. sector f the panio sate s that t gates will be opened and closed simultaneously. Preferably, a pneumatic operating means is,pro vided for the opening and closing of the gates in the form of a cylinder 26 pivotally mounted at 2'1 on one of the gates l2 and having its piston mechanism including the piston rod 28'pivotally connected at 29to the companion gate I2. Air" under pressure can be introduced selectively to. either end of the cylinder 26 bymeans includ ing respective flexible air conduits or hoses; 2 9 and 3| leading from a solenoid controlled twoway air valve 32 to whichan-air: feed conduit 3% is so n t he opera in solenoi er the va ve 3 is in icetedschemati l a 3 tr The Weighing, bin 13' is mommy The different,"

3 gether with its lead wires 36, the control and operation of the solenoid 34 and its associated valve 32 being described in greater detail hereinafter.

As previously explained, the weighing apparatus associated with the weighing bin I3 is of the general type disclosed in the said co-pending application, Serial No. 598,985, and includes a master weighing beam 4| (Figure 5) of conventional construction and a series of auxiliary weighing beams 42, 43, 44, 45 and 46, one for each of the bins II, by means of which the proportion by weight of the different types of ingredients, such as cement, fine aggregate, coarse aggregate, etc., to be employed in a batch can be controlled. In order to selectively connect the various auxiliary weighing beams to the master weighing beam, a depending linkage 4'1 is provided connected to the master weighing beam at one end and adapted for connection serective ly to any one of the auxiliary weighing beams 42 to 46, respectively. Each auxiliary weighing beam is normally locked out of operative relation to the master Weighing beam by a lock out latch 48 pivotally mounted in a shaft 49. Each latch is adapted to be moved between a beam lock out position (see position of latches for beams 42, 43, 45 and 46 of Figure 5) and a release position (see position of latch 48 for beam 44 in Figure 5). When in release position the associated beam is operatively connected to the main weighing beam through the linkage 4'1, all as disclosed in said application. The shaft 49 of each latch 48 carries a counterbalancing weight (not shown) which urges the latch toward both limiting positions, and which passes over a dead center position when the latch is moved from one limiting position to the other.

Selective automatic control means is provided for the various auxiliary weighing beams in the form of a plurality of control levers or keys 5| through 55, respectively. Each control lever, for example, the bellcrank lever 55 (Figures 5, 6, l0 and 11), is pivotally mounted at 56 on an L- shaped support bracket 51, and is provided with two arms for control of difierent portions of the weighing control means. One arm of the lever 55 is pivotally connected at 58 to a link 59 which is pivotally connected at its lower end to a bellcrank member 6| pivoted at 62 on a frame member 63 within the scale cabinet M. The other arm of the bellcrank 6| is pivotally connected to a latch operating rod 64 which is slidably mounted in a partition 66 of the scale cabinet and has its end disposed adjacent the latch 48 for the associated auxiliary weighing beam 46.

Thus, when the operating lever 55 is rocked counterclockwise, as viewed in Figure 6, the latch 48 will be moved to its release position so that the associated auxiliary weighing beam is released for a weighing operation.

The other arm of the control lever 55 (Fgures and 11) carries a pin 6! disposed above a latching and control link 68 having a notch 69 for cooperation with a spring-urged latching rod 1| carried by a plurality of arms 12 which are pivotally mounted on a transverse rod 73. Thus, upon rocking of the control lever 55 to an operated position the associated link 68 is depressed and is latched in this position. Because of the cam face provided on each link 68 below its notch 69 an other depressed link 68 associated with one of the control levers 5| through 54 will be released. The latching link 68 is spring urged to its upward position by a spring 74 and has its lower end operatively related with a 4 suitable electrical switch 16 to close the switch and enable the automatic control circuit associated with the weighing apparatus including a light sensitive control means related to the master weighing beam. Also, as later described, a depressed control link of the weighing and feeding control means is locked in depressed position until completion of the feeding operation initiated and controlled thereby. Movement of lever 55 in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in Figure 11 is limited by the adjustable stop screw15, which is carried by a convenient fixed member 15a of the machine.

As explained in said co-pending application, the master weighing beam 4| has associated therewith a pointer or indicator arm 11 (Figures 8 and 9) cooperating with the scale 18 which indicates the number of pounds the arm ll is displaced from its 0 position when one of the auxiliary weighing beams is connected to the master weighing beam. In accordance with the instant invention, the indicator arm 71 has associated therewith a control circuit which is operative in connection with the starting and stopping of an aggregate feeding operation. In its 0 position the indicator arm ll covers an aperture 19 in a plate 8| which is disposed between a light source 82, and a light sensitive cell 83, so that the light to the cell is interrupted whenever the master weighing beam 4| is in its zero or balanced position.

The electrical circuit associated with the light sensitive cell 83 is illustrated in Figure 7 and as shown, the light sensitive cell includes in its circuit an amplifier 88 and a relay 86, the amplifier being of the type to energize the relay whenever the light to the cell 83 is interrupted so that the relay 86 is energized when the indicator arm H in Figure 8 closes the aperture 19. In other words the relay is energized at the beginning of a Weighing and feeding operation and again at the end of such an operation.

The relay 86 has associated therewith a switch 81 which is common to the individual circuits associated respectively with the control levers 5| to 55. Each of these individual control circuits includes two parallel branches both in series with the relay switch 81. Thus the reay switch Bl is in series with the switch 89 and the control solenoid 34 for the associated air valve 32 previously described. The relay switch 8'! is also in series with the switch 16 closed upon operation of one of the control levers 5| to 55 and the relay winding 90 for switch 89.

It will be understood that the two parallel circuits including the switch 89 and the solenoid 34 in one instance, and the switch 16 and the relay winding 90 in the other instance, are individual to each control circuit for one of the control levers 5| to 55, while the switch 8! and its relay winding 86 are common to all of these circuits. Each one of the control levers 51 to 55 inclusive is provided with an associated switch 16 whereby when a particular lever is pulled to the left from the position shown in Figure 6, the associated switch 16 is closed.

The operation of the circuit briefly is as follows: When a control lever, say the lever 55, is operated, the associated switch 16 is closed and the associated auxiliary weighing beam is connected to the master weighing beam to depress the indicator arm 11. Light impinges upon the light sensitive cell 83 to thereby de-energize the winding 86 so that the switch 81 is closed. When the switch 81 is closed, a circuit is completed through the switch 81, the switch 16 and the negation solenoid 96: to close the, switch 89. andi'this cir; cui't. will be maintained. so long as. the. control linlr 68, associated with the operator control lever is, locked in depressed position asv later described. Whenthe switch is closed, a circuit is come pleted through the switch 81, the switch 89; and the. solenoid it to operate the related air valve 32 so that the associated pair of gates I2 is opened and a material feeding operation is started from the bin controlled by the gateswhich have been operated. At the conclusion of the weighing operation and when the required weight of material has been fed, the light beam from the lamp 82 is again interrupted so that the relay 8%? is energized to open the switch 81 and thereby interrupt the circuit for the solenoids 3t and :36.

The lock mechanism associated with the respective control levers 5| to 55 and their associated control links {i8 includes a mechanism as sociated with the latching rod II for the links 68 and particularly includes a, plate 9i which is attached to the latch levers l2 and which has its one end projecting within an auxiliary housing 92. Within this housing, plate Ell is in abutting relation with a latch lever 93 pivotally mounted at 94 and urged in a counterclockwise direction by spring 95. The latch lever 93 has a notch normally engaging a pin 96 of a lock lever 91 which is. spring urged clockwise by the spring 98 and is connected to the armature of s the relay 8%. Whenever the latching rod ll (Fig ure 10 is rocked by depression of link 68 the latch lever 93 is moved to, the position shown in Figure 14 so that the lock lever er can be moved by its spring 9% into lock'ng relation with the extension 9!. This condition of the parts will obtain until the end of a weighing operation when the solenoid at is energized as previously explained to rock the locking lever 97 back to its inactive latched position as shown in Figure 13. Thus when a weighing operation is initiated by operating a control lever, a second lever cannot be operated until the previous weighing operation has been completed.

The modified circuit shown in Figure 15 is similar in all respects to the circuit shown in Figure 7 for one of the valve controlled solenoids 34 with the exception that a second man ually operable switch 99 is placed in series with the switch lE so that after operation of the associated control levers 5i to 55, the weighing and feeding operation will not be initiated until the switch as is alSO operated.

To summarize briefly the operation of the above apparatus, when it is desired to form a batch of aggregate, the levers 5i to 55 are operated in sequence to cause feeding of weighed portions of each of the ingredients. A similar operation occurs upon manipulation of each of the levers 5| to 55 so that the description will be limited to the operation which occurs when one of the levers is operated. Assuming operation of the lever 55 for example, the rod 59 (Figure 5) is lifted to operate through the bellcrank 5i and the rod 6 to release the latch is for the associated auxiliary weighing beam 36. In this way the adjusted weight of this weighing beam is transmitted through the link M to the master Weighing beam 4 l.

Also when the control lever 55 is operated its associated control link 68 is depressed and latched in depressed position by the latch rod H, which in turn is locked in its latching position by the lock lever 91. Depression of the control link 68 also closes the associated switch 16.

6 When the weight of the; auxiliary weighing beamv is transmitted to, the master weighing; beam the. indicator arm 11 (Figures 8 and 9) is depressed so that it no longer interrupts the light beam from the lamp 82 to the light sensitive cell 83- When this occurs, the solenoid 86 (Figure 7). is deenergized allowing closing of the switch 81'! and, the switch 16 having been previously closed, the solenoid 90isenergized to close the switch; 8%. Closing of the switch til completes the circuit for the solenoid 34 which operates the, air valve 32 to open the associated gates 12 for; the ingredient of the batch corresponding to the control lever 55. At the end of the weighing operation the indicator arm 11 is lifted sufficiently to interrupt. the light beam passing through the aperture '19 so that the solenoid 86 is energized to open the switch 81 and terminate the weighing operation by allowing the valve 32 to; again cause closing of the gates IZ. At the, same time, the energization of the solenoid til restores the locking lever 91 to its inoperative position, so that the parts are conditioned for a, subsequent operation of another of the control levers 5! to 55. By sequential operation of these levers, therefore, the various ingredients of a batch of aggregate can be delivered to the weighing hopper l3 and transmitted therefrom through the, gathering hopper Hi to a suitable receptacle such as a truck or mixing apparatus.

While I have described my invention as illustrated in the preferred embodiment thereof, it will be apparent that the invention is capable of both variation and modification from the form shown, and its scope therefore should be limited only by the scope of the claims appended hereto.

I claim:

1. In apparatus for use in forming batches of concrete and similar road mixtures, a weighing bin for receiving the separate ingredients of the mixture, a plurality of storage bins, disposed to feed the separate materials to said weighing bin, means for controlling selective discharge of material from each of said storage bins into said weighing bin, said discharge controlling means including a plurality of manually operable control members, a latch common to said control members for holding an operated one of said members in its operative position, releasably locking means for said latch, means controlled by said latch upon movement thereof into latching engagement with one of said control members for causing said locking means to lock the latch in such engagement, and means controlled by said weighing bin for releasing said locking means at the end of a material feeding and weighing operation. I

2. Apparatus as in claim 1 together with weighing means for weighing the separate ingredients as supplied to the weighing bin, and means actuated by movement of any one of the control members to operative position for rendering the weighing means operative to weigh out a predetermined amount of an ingredient.

3. In apparatus for use in forming batches of concrete and similar road mixtures, a weighing bin for receiving the ingredients of the mixture, a plurality of material storage bins adapted to supply a particular material to the weighing bin,

weighing means for the weighing bin including a main weighing beam and a plurality of secondary weighing beams, the secondary beams being connectable to the main beam, feed gates serving to control discharge of material from the storage bins, means for controlling operation of said gates including a plurality of control levers, each control lever being movable between release and material feed positions to control supplying of a particular material to the bin, means for urgin the control levers toward their release positions, elongated links operatively attached to said levers and movable lengthwise of the same upon movement of the levers between release and feed positions, means serving to operatively connect a corresponding secondary beam to the main beam when a corresponding control lever is moved to its feed position, a latch common to all said links and adapted to engage and retain in locking engagement any one of said links when the lever corresponding to the same is moved to its feed position, and means for releasing said latch means responsive to movement of another one of said levers to its feed position.

4. Apparatus as in claim 3 in which each of said links is provided with a notch for effecting said lockin engagement with the latching means when the corresponding control lever is moved to feed position, and in which said releasing means comprises cam means on each link for moving the latching means to released position with respect to an engaged link, responsive to movement of another control lever to its feed position.

5. Apparatus as in claim 3 together with means serving to obstruct the operation of a control lever during a feeding and weighing operation, said means including a second lockin means for retaining the latching means in engaged position after operation of a control lever, and means energized at the end of a particular weighing opbin for receiving the ingredients of the mixture, a plurality of storage bins disposed to feed material to said weighing bin, means for controlling selective discharge of ingredients from each of said storage bins into said weighing bin, said discharge controlling means including a series of manually operable control levers, a latch common to said control levers for holding an operated one of said levers in its operative position, means serving to urge each of said levers toward the release positions of the same, means for effecting automatic release of a control lever when another one of said control levers is moved from release to material feed position, releasable locking means for said latch, means controlled by said latch upon movement thereof into latchin engagement with one of said control members for causing said locking means to lock the latch in such engagement, and means controlled by said weighing bin for releasing said locking means at the end of a material feeding and weighing operation.

JACK D. NOBLE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date Re. 21,169 McCrery Aug. 1, 1939 1,826,919 Bliss Oct. 13, 1931 2,038,746 Madsen et a1. Apr. 28, 1936 2,046,693 McCrery July 7, 1936 2,097,551 Garlinghouse Nov. 2, 1937 2,277,575 Almond et a1. Mar. 24, 1942 2,336,130 Saxe Dec. 7, 1943 

